Tray for heat treating furnaces and the like



Dec. l, 1942. H. E. JoHNsoN 2,303,882

' TRAY FOR HEAT TREATING FURNCES AND THE LIKE Filed July 5, 1941 O OA Patented Dec. l, 19,42

UNITED' STATE-s 1 AT13NTA OFI-Ice Howard E. Johnson, Chicago Heights, Ill., as-

signor to The 'American Brake- Shoe and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware happlication July 5,1941, serial No. 401,177

c claims. (ci. 26a-41) The present invention relates to work supporting trays, and more in particular to trays for supporting articles as they traverse heat treat-` ing furnaces and the like.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel work supporting tray for heat treating furnaces of integral skeleton or open work formation having guiding supports for movement over rails or the like and which are of such a construction and so connected to the tray as to provide rigidity for the said tray under all conditions and to lessen the warping and torsional eiect created by subjecting the tray to extremely high temperatures, the said guiding supports having novel interlocking relation with the said tray to permit their reversal end for end on the same side of the said tray and their disposition on the opposite side of said` tray when warping is initially detected to overcome such warping, thus prolonging the useful life of the said tray. f

The invention pertains to trays of the type hereinabove designated which, during their normal use, are subjected to extremely high temperatures. In practice, such trays of integral skeleton or open work formation have been found more desirable in many respects than other types of trays because of the facility with which the same may be cast and the ease in handling and manipulating the same in their normal use in connection with heat treating furnaces. While such trays have been cast with due regard to the provision of lsubstantially uniform metal sections at all points, nevertheless some diiculty has been experienced at the junction points for the webs in that the finished tray may include shrinkage cracks at or adjacent such points which serve as reservoirs for'carbon deposits which, upon being subjected to high temperatures, expand and cause the trays to warp, thus decreasing th'e`Y useful life of the same and requiring their frequent repair or replacement. Furthermore, where such trays are cast integral with the guiding supports, considerable dimculty is experienced because of the lack of uniformity in the metal section of the structure which, upon alternate heating and cooling, have a tendency-to cause warping, cracking and buckling.

The present invention therefore has as one of its primary objects the provision of a tray of incorrect any warping or other objectionable conditions which may take place in the said trays.`

The invention also includes as an object the provision of-novel supports in the form of rail guides of relatively rigid construction having subdivided depending fianges which prevent their warping when subjected to high temperatures and which provide rigidity in thetray structure and may be readily reversed in the tray structure and disposed on either side thereof, and certain of which rail guide members may be positioned adjacent opposite marginal edges of the tray as found necessary to correctany warping of the tray which has taken place, thus leading to a longer useful life for the same.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide a-novel connection between the separately formed rail guide members and the tray which permits said rail guide members to be conveniently disconnected from the tray without injury to the tray in any way and permits their ready connection to said tray in any reverse position when this becomes necessary.

The invention more particularly involves a connection between upstanding lugs of the rail guide members and the tray involving pins or rivets,-

permitting their ready removal without injury A to the tray and facilitating the removal of the rail guide Vmembers and their replacement in any other selected positionwith respect to the Vsaid tray.

As an additional feature of construction, the present invention has as an object the provision of oiset deflected formations for the longitudinal webs .or bars forming the rimrof the said tray, providing for rigidity in the tray structure and further providing for a substantially flush relation between the upstanding lugs of the rail guide members and the adjacent portions 'of the webs forming the rim of the tray.

Another object within lthe purview of the present invention is to provide an integral tray of vskeleton or open work formation, having separately formed rail guide members interconnected .therewith to permit independent expansion and contraction of the tray and rail guide members, thus tending to eliminate stresses due to heating and cooling of the same during the cycle of movement of the tray in its use in connection with a heat treating furnace, and which would otherwise tend to crack the tray and cause warpage.

As a further object, the present invention con templates a readily detachable connection between the tray and guide rails above identiiled in which the connecting means for the said tray and guide rails is symmetrical to facilitate assembling the said guide rails on either side of said tray to correct warpage which may occur due to alternate heating and cooling `of the tray.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a work supporting tray for heat treating furnaces made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the tray shown in Figure 1 of the drawing; and

Figure 3 is a View in cross-section taken in the plane represented by line 3-3 of Figure 1 of the drawing.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing,

an embodiment selected to illustrate the present invention is shown as comprising a tray member 2 of integral skeleton or open work formation comprising a plurality' of longitudinal bars or webs 4 and transversely arranged bars or webs 6 integrally united by spider-like intersections 8 formed with openings such as I to provide a tray having substantially uniform metal sections to prevent the formation offlocculent shrinkage areas at these junction points which would normally result in crevices or cracks..

The tray of skeleton formation as disclosed in the drawing is provided with transversely arranged rail guide supporting members or slide shoes I2, I4 and I6, the rail guide'member I4 being disposed substantially centrally with respect to the tray 2 andthe members I2 and I6 being disposed on opposite sides of the member I4 and adjacent the marginal opposed side of said tray member 2.

The rail guide members I2, I4 and I6 are of substantially the same formation including the opposed lugs I8 and 20 upstanding with respect to the member 2 and being received within inwardly oiset or deflected portions such as 22 of the oppositely disposed bars or webs 24 and 26 forming the rim of the said member 2L The rail guide members Ii2 and I'6 vary structurally from the railguide member I4 in certain respects, one of which is in the provision of a depending guide flange 28 sub-divided as at 30, which flange provides rigidity in the assembled structure and because of the sub-divisions 30 is free from warping or torsional displacement.

The rail guide members I2, I4 and I6 are formed separately from the tray of skeleton formation and are interconnected with the said tray in the manner disclosed in the drawing and which connection comprises a pair of pins or rivets 32 and 34 at each end of the rails which" straddle atransverse web or bar 6 and interconnect the provide substantially uniform metal sections atf" the spider-like intersections 8, nevertheless oftentimes possesses. because of casting difficulties. minute cracks or crevices at these Junction points which serve as reservoirs for carbon deposits which, under the action of high temperatures expand, enlarging the cracks and causing some warping in the tray even in spite of the rigidity developed in the assembly by virtue of the rail guide members. Whenanytendency to warp is evidenced, such may be corrected in the present assembly by virtue of the particular interlocking relation of these rail guide members with respect to the traythis being accomplished by'severing or cutting the pins 32 and 34 intermediate their ends and between the adjacent webs which they span, permitting removal of the rail guide members and their re-assembly with respect to the tray in any other selected p0sition,v such as reversal end for end and/or placement in opposite relation adiacent the marginal side edges of the tray, or placement on opposite sides of the tray in any of the before-mentioned positions, after which the same may be re-connected to the tray to correct this warping or twisting of the same.

The particular interconnecting relation of the pins to .the webs of the tray member permits their severance without damage to the said webs or bars and provides means for their quick and ready removal whereby the rail guide members may be re-connected to the tray in any of said positions. In the illustrative example, since the rail guide member I4 is formed without the guide flange, the same would be reversed end for end on the same side of the tray or placed in association with the opposite side of the tray as conditions warrant, while` rail guide members I2 and I 6, which are provided with the guide ange, may

` not only be reversed end for end but may be further disposed, if desired, adjacent the marginal side edges of the tray, or, where conditions warrant, may be connected to the opposite side of the said tray.

While the present invention discloses the rail guide members disposed rbeneath transverse webs correct any warpage which has taken place. 'I'hus the openings in the Webs of the tray are centrally located to receive the pins 32 and 34 when the guide rails are on either side of the said tray. 'I'he particular disposition of the rail guide members with respect to the tray 2 and the arrangement of the connecting means therefor provide rigidity in the assembled structure to resist warping and serves to torsionally stiifen the tray, thus lessening any tendency toward warping and twisting in the tray structure.

The formation of the rail guide members Aas individual and separate units further eliminates the setting up of stresses in the tray structure due to changes in temperature during use which would otherwise tend to crack or cause warpage of the casting-2. It is to be noted that the rails, while embracing the tray, are so connected thereto as to permit independent expansion and contraction of the tray and said rails, thus further eliminating any tendency to set up internal stresses which diswould otherwise cause warping and torsional placement of the tray. As a further feature of commotion, the rim forming webs or bars of the tray are deflected or oset inwardly to strengen the tray and also to provide for a substantially flush relation between the upstanding lugs oi the rail guide members andthe adjacent portions of said bars or webs.

While the embodiment selected to illustrate the present invention incorporates three guide rails in the assembly, it is to be understood that two guide rails only may be used conforming to the guide rails l2 and I6 to secure all of the advantages hereinabove enumerated without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.

-While I have herein described and upon the drawing shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to` be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from `the Spirit of the invention.

I claim: 1. In an open work tray for use in heat treating furnaces, the combination of a work supporting member of integral construction comprising a plurality of intersecting longitudinally and transversely arranged bars, a plurality of slide shoes upon which said work supporting member rests having lugs embracing opposed rim forming bars of the same, and means providing a readily detachable connection between said lugs and said member -whereby said slide shoes bars whereby said slide shoes may be re-posiing member of integral construction comprising a plurality of intersecting longitudinally and transversely arranged bars, a plurality of slide lshoes upon which said work supporting member rests, said slide shoes being disposed beneath transversely disposed bars of said member and having upstanding lugs disposed in embracing relation to opposed outer bars of said member, and a pair of pins interconnected with said lugs and member on opposite sides of said transversely disposed bars and spanning acUacent longitudinal bars so that said pins may be severed intermediate their ends without damage to said tioned with respect to said work supporting member to correct any warping thereof which may develop under high temperatures incident to use.

5. In an open work tray for use in heat treating furnaces, the combination of a work supporting member of integral construction comprising a plurality of intersecting longitudinally and transversely arranged bars, a plurality of slide shoes upon which said work .supporting may be repositioned with respect to said work supporting member to correct any warping thereof which may develop under high temperatures incident to use.

2. In an open work tray for use in heat treating furnaces, the combination of a work supporting member oi' integral construction comprising a plurality of intersecting longitudinally and transversely arranged bars, a plurality of slide shoes upon which said work supporting member rests. said slide shoes having lugs embracing opposed rim forming bars of said work supporting member and certain of said slide shoes having depending sub-divided guide ilanges, and means providing a 'readily detachable connection between said lugs and said member whereby said slideeshoes may be re-positioned with respect to said work supporting member to correct any warping thereof which may develop under high v temperatures incident to use. Y

l. In an open work tray for use in in g hirnacea the combination of a work supporti118 member of integral construction comprising a plurality' of intersecting longitudinally and heat treat- 'transversely arranged bars. a plurality of slide shoes upon which said work supporting member rests. saidslide shoes having upstanding lugs disposed in embracing relation to opposed outer bars or said member, and a pin ,interconnected with said member and lugs and spanning adjacent bars so that said pins may b e severed intermediate their ends without damage to said bars whereby said slide shoes may/ be re-positioned with respect to said work'supporting member to correct any warping thereof which may develop under high temperatures incident to use. j 4. In an'open work tray i'or use in heattreatinsv furnaces, the combination ci awork wortmember rests, one of said slide shoes being substantially centrally disposed with respect to said member and other of said slide shoes being spaced with respect thereto, said slide shoes being disposed beneath transversely disposed bars of said member and having upstanding lugs disposed in embracing relation to opposed outer bars of said member, the other of said slide shoes having depending sub-divided guide ilanges, and a pair of pins interconnected with said lugs and member on opposite sides of said transversely disposed bars and spanning adjacent longitudinal bars so that said pins may be severed intermediate their e'nds without damage to said bars whereby said slide shoes may be re-positioned on opposite sides of said work supportingmember to correct any warping thereof which may develop under high temperatures incident to use.

6. In an open work tray for use in heat treating furnaces, the combination of a work supporting member of integral construction comprising a plurality of-intersecting longitudinally and transversely arranged bars, the opposed longitudinal guide iianges. and a pair of pins interconnected with said lugs and member on opposite sides of said transversely disposed bars and spanning adjacent longitudinal bars so that said pins may be severed intermediate their ends without damage to said bars whereby said slide shslmay be repositioned on opposite sides of said work supporting member to correct any warping thereof which may develop under high temperatures incident to use.

- HOWARD E. JOHNSON. 

